Duplex graphophone.



C'. HINCKLEY & J. GRAHAM.

DUPLEX GRAPHUPHONE.

APPLICATIQN mm mus. m1.

Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

F. C. HINCKLEY & J. GRAHAM.

DUPLEX GRAPHOPHONE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 9, 191?.

Patented Aug; 27; mm

3 shins-suit 2.

I 7 m M 3 m F. C. HINCKLEY & J. GRAHAM.

DUPLEX GRAPHOPHDNE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.9 I911.

Patnted Aug. 27, 1912i 3 SHEETS-SHEET a.

UNITED OFFICE.

FRANK C. HINCKLEY AND JOHN GRAHAM, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN GRAPHOPHONE COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPO- RATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

DUPLEX GBAPHOPHONE.

Application filed January 9, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK ,ll lNUKLEY and JOHN (inAnAi-u, citizens of the Jnitcd States of America, and residents of Bridgeport, (lionru-retiout, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Duplex Graphophones, which invention is fully set forth in tlH' following specification.

This invention relates totalkingmachines, and more particularly to machines of this: type employinga plurality of souml-hoxrs having styli which simultaneously and consecutively track the same record groove.

In machines of the type employii'ig a pinrality of styli simultaneously and consecutively tracking the record groove, it is essentie] that said styli be accurately positioned in consecutive portions of the same convolution of the record groove, else, if they engage in ai'ljacent grooves, there will he a. discordant confusion of sound. Furtl'ien more, if one of the styli happens to strike the surface of the tablet between adjacent record grooves in the act of positioning the same, there. is grave likelihood that such stylus will be thrown by centrifugal force into the next outer groove with the corre- Fil)()ll(lll'll production of discord and ronfu sion. ()n the other hand, it has been found, by experience, that the most desirable re sults are to be obtained in a machine oi this type by mounting the sound-boxes for independent movement both as respects their traverse of the record-tablet and their movement in planes at right-angles to the tablet because of the irregularities occurring in its surface. Such independent mounting of the sound-boxes, however, necessitates the individual positioning of their respective styli in the record groove.

In machnes of this type heretofore constructed, it. has been exceedingly difiicult, if not n'aetirally in) 'iossible, to correctly position the styli. of t e several so1 1ndboxes in consecutive portions of the record groove to initigte the reproduction, owing to the diflicult-y in distinguishing one convolution of the record groove from another with the naked eye. To obviate this (lifiieulty, it has been proposed to provide the sound-boxes with a device for aiming, the styli in a single plane preparatory to positioning the same in the record groove. Such devices, however, fail to make allowance for the con- Specification of Letters Patent.

.latentetl A ug'. 2'7, 1918.

Serial No. 141,424.

tinuous change, as the styli trawn'se thc record, in the length of are embraced by the paths of the slyli as they cross successive (-onvolutions of the ,e'roo've and in the angle oi any plane ronnnon'to said styli to the (-hords emlu'arod'by said styli as they cross successive eonvolntion whereby, although the styli may be spaced a proper "distance within their plane for location in an outer convolution, such alinine' devices do'not space the styli the proper distance for location in the inner convolutions.

it is an object of this invention to progvide a; talking machine of the type employing a plurality oi sound-boxes mounted for'simultaneous and consecutive tracking of the record groove by their styli" with means 'whoreby the styli may be positioned in consecutive portions of the record groove at any desired point in the length thereof, without any special care or close obstarvation on the part of the operator.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of the type characterized with means enabling the stylus of one of the sound-boxes to be moved in a plane extend ing longitudinally thereof into alinement with the stylus of another of the sound boxes, the points of said stvli being brought preferably into substantial coincidence preparatory to their being positioned in the record groove, to obviate all likelihood of the styli being positioned in contiguous eonvolutions of the record groove rather than in consecutive port-ions of the same convolution.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a talking! machine employing a.

plurality of sound-boxes having styli'designed to simultaneously and consecutively track the same record groove with mounting means for said sounddioxes enabling the latstylus, means, preferably independent tonearms, mounting said sound-boxes m cooperative relation with a record on said support, to enable said styli to simultaneously and consecutively track the. record groove, and means to position said styli in consecutive portions of the record groove at any desired point in the length thereot'. ()ne of said sound-boxes -is preferably mounted for movement with respect to its mounting means to enable its stylus to be moved in a plane extending longitudinally thereof into alinement. with the stylus of the. other soundbox, such movement preferably bringing the points oi" said styli into substantla coincidence. To secure such proper almement of the styli, one of said sound-boxes is preferably providcd with cum means enacting with n'ieans upon the other of said sound-boxes for guiding said styli into their proper relationship. l urthermore, the. sound-boxes are preferably mounted forin'dependent movement about a common axis to permit. their traverse of the record-tablet, and about a common a. is to permit their movement in planes at angles to said recordtablet. Additionally, when tone-arms are employed for mounting said sound-boxes, said tone-arms are. preferably connected with separate sound-amplitying means by elbows swivelly connected with the tone-arms and having rotatable and slidable connection with Said amplifying means.

The, invention is capable of receiving a variety of n'i'echanieal expression, one of which is shown on the accompanying draw-- ings, but it is to be expressly understood that the. drawings are for purposes of illustration only, and are not to be construed as a definition oi" the limits of the invention, reference being bad to the appended claims fol-that purpose. In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a talking ma chine embodying the present invention, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1, parts being shown in seetion;

Fig. 3 is an end elmation of the plurality of sound-boxes on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4- is a side elevation of the styli mid stylus carriers when theformer are moved into egagement, being on a further enlarged scale;

, Fig. 5 is a Fig.4;

. Fig. (l is a persmictiv view of the mountsection ,on the line 5'5' of ing for the tone-a-rn'is and of the connections bet ween said arms and the ,souml-amphfymg means, witlrrth'e parts shown in detached re..- lationship; "and p I Figs. 7'21? are perspective views of the res )eeti-ve end-boxes. A

Ileferringin detail to" said drawings, who 'in the some reference nin-nerals indicati'r-corresponding. parts in the, several -fi-gures, 1 illustrates the usual record support, 2 its spindle, 3 any suitable motor and transmission gearing-for'rotating said record support, and 4 any conventional sound record mounted upon said record supportf In accordai'iee with the present; invention, a-plurality of sound-boxes are mounted in cooperative relation withthe record 4 to en-.

able their styli to simultaneously and con seeutively track the record groove. As shown, two sound-boxes 5 are mounted upon hollow tone-arms 6, 'said t0ne-arms eaclnbe= ing provided with a right-angled bend at 7 rotatably connected with a downwardly direet-ed elbow 8. \Vhile, the invention is illus trated as up )lied to a machine wherein the sound amplit the, plane of the record tablet, it is to be expressly understood that by'obvious variation the invention is capable of a lication to a machine wherein the ampli ying means is disposed above the plane of the record tablet. Said tone-arms 6 are mounted for independent rotatable movementin traversing the record tablet and in planes at angles thereto, such movements, however, taking about common axes As shown, the r1ghtangled bends 7 have'their inner ends in alinement whereby they have a common axis of movement in planes at angles to the record tablet. Said tone-arms also, by preference, have a common axis of movement in planes parallclto the surface of the record tablet,

and to this end astationary pivot post.9 is

mounted by means of a bracket- 10 on the motor board or a wall of the casing, any

ying means is disposed beneath" suitable means as SCIBW'S131 being employed to maintainthe same iha'tiqsitionsfOne of the elboivs 8 is provided with an eccentric sleeve 12 mounted 'upo'nsa-idpivot post 9, and the other of said elbows 8 is provided with a pair ofapertured lugs 13 mounted upon said post-9 above and below the sleeve 12. Any suitable means, as acapnut 14, may be employed to maintain the lugs and sleeve in position upon the pivot post 9.

The upper wall of the casing, or the motor board, is provided with an aruate slot 15 throu h whichdepend the lower ends of the e ows 8, said slot being of an extent suflicient to admit of the tone-arms traveling through a distanee equal to the maximum extent of a sound record groove. -'To constitute a closure for that part of the slot:

'notoccupied by the depending portions of the elbows 8 in the. course of their traverse of the record a closure plate 10 is mounted in any suitab e way to be moved by said de-' Separate soundiiin-plifying meanggg'g.

horns 19 and 20, are provided for the separate tone-arms, and to constitute connections between the dependin ends of the tone-arms and' 'said sound-amp ifying means, elbows 21 and 22 are swivelly connected to the de pending ends of said tone-arms at one end and have rotatable and slidable connection with the sound-amplifying means at their opposite ends As shown, each of said elbows 21 and 22 is provided with a spherical enlargement 23 snugly fitting within a socket 24 rovided at the smaller end of each soun amplifier. Each spherical enlargement 23 may slide longitudinally of its socket and also rotate about transverse axes. Inasmuch as one of said elbowshas chiefly a; reciprocating motion while the other has chiefly arotative motion, one of said sockets may be made materially shorter than the other, as shown.

To provide for automatically bringing the styli of the sound-boxes 5 into proper alinement for disposition in the record groove, one of said sound-boxes is fixedly secured to the end of its tonearm, as by a set-screw 25, while the other of said sou udboxes' is mounted for a limited rotation on the end of its tone-arm. To this end, the latter sound-box is provided with a pin 20 working in a T-shaped' slot 27 provided in the end of the corresponding tone-arm, and

the sound-box neck 28 is further provided with a spider 29 'from which extends a pin K 30'lpas'sing through a boss 31 on the tone-arm provided with a nut or screw-retained washer 32 u on its outer extremity. By adjustment 0 hot or washer 32, the freedom with'which the sound-box may rotate upon the end of the tonearm Within the limits defined by slot 27 can be readily controlled.

'Each of the sound-boxes is provided with the usual stylus bar 33 mounted thereon in anysu'itabIe manner and provided at its lower extremity with a stylus carrier 34 receivin' a'stylus 35. One or both of said st his are are referably deflectedas shown (h ig. 3) to ena he the styli to track the same convolution of the record groove without thefsoiind-boxes engaging each other, To

guidethe stylus on the sound-box'movable' "with respect to its tone-arm into proper aliIiement-with the stylus on the relatively stationary sound-box, one of said soun boxes is provided with a cam coactin with means on the otherrsound-box. As s own one oi'said stylus carriers 34 is provided with an extension 36 having a V-shaped'slot adapted to receive the stylus secured in the a. rough guide for t able sound-box, and to maintain, the two other of the stylus carriers.

The: movable sound-box is provided in any suitable manner with a handle 37, Shown as attached to the rear face of the sound-box casing b I screws 38. To provide he movement of the movsound-boxes with their styli in approximate alinement when not in engagement with the record-tablet, the stationary sound-box is preferably provided with a forked bracket 39 receiving the handle 37 between the bifurcations thereof.

To position the sound-boxes with their styli in consecutive portions of the same convolution of the record groove, handle 37' sion 36 acting as a cam to guide the moving stylus into exact alinement with the other stylus, preferably with the two stylus points in substantial coincidence as shown in Fig. 4. The sound-boxes may then be lowered to position the styli in the recordgroove. The engagement of the stylus on the relatively movable sound-box with the record groove will result in said stylus being moved by the tablet away from the stylus on the relatively stationary soundbox to the extent permitted by the coaction of pin 26 and slot 27, i. 6., from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to the position shown in dot-ted lines. The styli are now spaced a distance appropriate for the simul taneous and consecutive tracking of the record groove. During the reproduction of the record the two tone-arms will oscillate about the axis determined by the pivot post 9, the sound-boxes rising and falling owing to irregularities in the record surface about the axis drie -mined by the rotatable engage ment of the angular ends 7 with the elbows. 8. As the tone-arms oscillate about the axis 9, they will carry with them the cover plate 16, preventing escape of sound-waves through the portions of the arcuate slot 15 not occupied by the depending ends of said tone-arms, and the elbows 22 and 23 will at one of their ends swivel about the depending ends of the tone-arms and at their 0 posite ends slide-and rotate in the sockets provided at the smaller ends of the soundamplifiers. When it is desired to replace the styli, the sound-boxes may be thrown to an inverted position, as shown in Fig, 2, about the axis determined by the rotativc engagement of the laterally extending ends 7 and elbows 8, the sound-boxes being maintained in' ap )roximete alinem'ent by the coaction of bracket 39.

andle '37 with the forked 7 record invention is not to be restricted thereto, .is other mechanical expressions thereof will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, while certain features thereof are susceptible of use without othe lcatures thereof. Accordingly, reference is to be. had to the appended claims as a elinitiou of. the limits of the invention.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In combination with a record support, a plurality of sound-boxes each provided with a stylus, means mounting said soundboxes in coiiperative relation with a record on said support to enable said styli to simultaneously and consecutively track the record groove, and means to position said styli in consecutive portions of the record groove at any desired point. in the length thereoi In combination with a record support, a plurality of sound-boxes each provided with a stylus, means mounting said soundboxes in cooperative relation with a record on said support to enable said styli to simultaneously and consecutively track the record groove, and means to bring the points of said styli into substantial coincidence for positioning the same in the record groove.

3; In combination with a record support, a plurality of sound-boxes each provided with a stylus, means mounting said soundboxes in cooperative relation with a record on said support to enable said styli to simultaneously and consecutively track the record oove, and means to move one of said styli Into engagement with the other of said styli for positioning said styli in the record groove.

4. In combination with a record support, a plurality of sound-boxes each provided with a stylus, means mounting said soundboxes in cojiperative relation with a record on said support to enable said styli to simultaneously and consecutively track the roove, and means to move one of said st li in a plane extending longitudinally t ere'of into alinement with the other of said styli for positioning said styli in the record groove.

5. In combination with a record support, a plurality of. sound-boxeseach provides -with a stylus, means mounting said soun boxes in cooperative relation with a record on said support to enable said styli to simultaneously and consecutivelytrack the record g roove, means for lnoving-one of said styli in a plane extending longitudinally there f,

.and cam means on one of said sound-box s .for guiding the point of said last-named stylus into .alinement with the point of the stylus on the other soundbox.

6. In combination, with arec'ord support, a plurality of sound-boxes each provided with a stylus, means mounting said soundboxes in cooperative relation with arecord on said support to enable said styli to simulgroove, one of said boxes being mounted for.

rotation with respect to its mounting means, and means for rotating said last'named sound-box to aline the point of its stylus with the point of the stylus of the other souru lbox.

8. In combination with a recordsunoort, a plurality of sound-boxes each provided with a stylus, means mounting, said soundboxcs in coiiperative relation with arecord on said support to enablsaid styli to simultaneously and consecutively track the record groove, one of said sound-boxes being mounted for movement with respect to its mounting means, means for moving said lashnamed soundbox with respect to its mounting means, and means coacting therewith to aline its stylus with the stylus of the other sound-box.

9. In combination with a recordsupport, a plurality of sound-boxes each rovided with a-stylus,.means mounting sai sound? boxes in cooperative relation with a record on said support to enable said st li to simul-" .iio

taneously and consecutively tracl; the record groove, one of said boxes being mounted for.

movement with respect to its mountin means, means for mov ng said ldstmame sound-box to engage its st .lus wath the stylus of the other; sound- 0'11, and cam means on one of said boxes coacting with means on the other .of said boxes to bring the )oints of said styli into substantial co; incidence.

a plurality of sound-boxes each provld with a stylus and its carrier, means mount- 1 ing said sound-boxes in coiiperative relation with a record on said support to enable said styli to simultaneously and consecutively track the record groove, one of said 11. In combinationdwith a record suppogg vor boxes being mounted for movement with respect to lts mounting means, means for moving said last-named sound-box to engage its stylus with the stylus of the other sound-box, and cam means on one of the stylus carriers coacting with the opposing lusft o bring the points of saids tyli into staiitial coincidence.

eom'binatio'n with a record support,

h' a stylus, means mounting said sound- ,boxes in coiiperative relation with a record said support to enable said styli to simul- 'tiinfeou'sl'y and consecutively" track the rec- ,o lfg'roojve', one of said sound-boxes being "mountedffor movement with respect to its jmounting means, means for moving said last-named sound-box tomove its stylus in V a glane extending longitudinally thereof, an

cam means on one of said sound'boxes for .ui di'n'glsaid lastmamed stylus into aline- "fiv itli'tliestylus of the other sound- H In combination with a record support.

l1 stylus, means mounting said sound s" in cooperative relation with a record on said'support to enable said styli to simulta ri e'ous ly and consecutively track the record groove, means rotatably supporting. one of said 'soiind boxes"from its mounting means,

Jforrotaftin bolt t6? alineits' 'st'y us with the stylus of the other sound-box, andcoacting means on-said 36 so ii ld lioxes to guide' said rotatable bogtdur 1 rotation;

I 1 In combination with a record support,

'ifrality of sound-boxes each provided luls, means mounting said soundcooperative relation with 'arecord id support toenable said styli to simultaneously and consecutively track-the record bo e's'jincoiiperati've relation with a record -aid support to enable said styli to simultaiieou'sly' and consecutively track the record groove, means rotatably supporting one i of said 'sonndboxes from lts mounting Inea n a means limiting the extent ofsuchrotation, and means for rotating said lastname'd' s'ound-boii to aline'ils styluswith the stylus of the other sound-box. V

16; In combination with a record support, a plurality of so11nd-b0xes each provided with a stylus, independent tone-arms mountin said sound-boxes in cooperative relation a pl urality of soundbdxes each provided said last-named soundwith a record on said support to enable said styli to simultaneously and consecutively track the record groove, and means to os1- tion said styli in consecutiveportions o "the record groove at any desired point in the length thereof.

17. In combinatiomwith a'recordsjupport, a plurality of sound-boxes each provided with a stylus, independent tone-arms mounting said sound-boxes in cooperative relation with a record on said support to enable said styli tosimultaneously and 'consecutiv 1y track the record groove, and means to br g the points of said styli into substantial coincidence for positioning the same in the record groove. 7 i

1 8. In combination with a record support, a plurality of sound-boxes each provided with a stylus, independent tone-arms mounting said sound-boxes in cotiperativ'e relation with a record on said support to enable said styli to simultaneously and con- -secutively track the record groove, one of said boxes being mounted for movement with respect to its mounting means,-and means to move said last-named sound-boxwith respect to its mounting means to aline its stylus with the stylus of the other sound-.

19.. In combination with a record support,- a; plurality of sound-bones each provided with a stylus, independent tone'arms mounting said sound-boxes inicoiiperative relation with'arecord on saidsupportto enable said styli to simultaneously and consecutively track the record groove, one of said boxc being mounted for movement with respect to itsn' ounting means," means to move said lastnamed sound-box with respect to lits mounting means, and means on one of said sound-boxes tor'giiide the points of said styli into substantial coincidence.

20. In combination with a recoralsupport, 'a pluralit of sound-boxes each provided with a styliis, independent tone-arms mounting said sound-boxesin cooperative relation [with a record on said support to enable said Styli to simultaneously and consecutively track the record groove, said tone-arms being bent vertically attheir outer ends, sound amplifying means, and elbows swivelly connected with the ends of said tone-arms and movably connected with said sound-amplifying means.

21. In .combination with a record support, a lura'lity of sound-boxes each provided wlth' a stylus, independentitonemrms mounting said sound-boxesi in coiiperativ'e relation with a record on said support to enable said styli to 's'imu-ltanco'i'isly and consecutively track the record groove, said tonearms being bent vertically at their outer ends, sound-amplifying means, and elbows swivelly connected with the ends of said tone-arms and operatively connected with said sound-amplifying means, said elbows ,ends, means providing an arcuate slot through whichthe ends of said tone-arms "extend and within which they travel, means moving with said'tone-arms and vconstitutmg a closure for said sl'ot, sound-amplifying means, and elbows swlvelly connected with the ends of said tone-arms and operatively connected means.

23. In combination. with a record support, a lurality of sound-boxes each provided with a stylus, independent tone-arms with :said' soiindmmplifyi'ng -.mounting said sound-boxes in cooperative relation with a record on said support to enable said styli to simultaneously and consecutively track the record groove, and means mounting said tone-arms for traverse of the record about a common eccentric axis.

24. In combination with a record support, a lurality of sound-boxeseach vprovided with a stylusyindependen't tone-arms mounting said sound-boxes incotiperative relation with a recordon said support to enable said styli to simultaneously and consecutively track the record groove, said tonearms each 'comprising a section mounted for movement in planes at angles to the record surface about a .common axis, and means mounting said tone-arms for traverse of the record. i

25. In combination with a record support, a plurality of sound-boxes each pro vided with a stylus, independent tone-arms mounting said sound-boxes in cooperative relatiopwith a record on' said support to enable said styli' to simultaneously and consecutively track the 'recordgroove, said tonearms each comprising a section mounted for movement in planes a't angles to the record surface about a common axis, and means I mounting said t0ne-arms for traverse of the record about a common axis.

26. In combination with a record support,

a plurality of tone-arms provided with sorind-reproducing means adapted to cooperate' wth a record on said' support, a pivot post eccentric to said tone-arms, and means mounting said'tone-arms on said pivot post for independent rotation.

27. In combination with a record support, a plurality of tone-arms provided with sound-reproducing means adapted to cooperate-witli a record on said support, said tonearms being bent verticallyat their outer ends, means providing an arcuate slot- 29. In combination with arrecord-support,

a plurality of sound-boxes each provided with a stylus, means mounting said soundboxes in coiiperative relation with arecord on said support to enable said st li to simultaneously and consecutively trac the record groove, one of said sound-boxes being mounted for movement with respect to its mount-- ing means, a handle on one of said soundboxes, and a guide on the other of said sound-boxes embracing said .handle.

30. In combination with a record support, a plurality of-sound-boxes each provided with a stylus, means mounting said sound-boxes in cooperative relation with a record on said support to enable said Styli to simultaneously and consecutively track the record roove, means for moving one of said sound- 'oxes with respect to its mounting means, and "cooperating" means on said sound-boxes for cumming said styli into alinement.

In testimony whereof'we have signed this specification. Y

I v FRANK C. HINCKLEY.

I JOHN GRAHAM. i 

